All Posts

Wishes about organ donation and the twist in advance care directives.

Operation being performed

In Australia, your advance care directive wishes about organ donation won’t be followed if you haven’t taken one crucial extra step. You need to register your donation at donatelife.gov.au, even though you’ve clearly stated in your advance care directive that you want to donate your organs. DonateLife explains. It seems … Read more

Reflecting on grief for Body and Soul.

We were reflecting on grief recently, when Cockatoo Media’s Body and Soul podcast’s Jason Dasey and Alex Hyndman Hill interviewed me. If you’d like to listen, here is the interview. Alex asked about the good death. “A Good death is defined differently from one group to another. In our culture … Read more

Sponsored Article: Grief Care is here to support you.

Grief Care staff - Sigrid Evangelista, Patricia Thomas, Sinead Kent and Carmela Di Pietro

The experience of grief is universal and inevitable for each of us. It is felt physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and socially and it is a natural response to loss, bereavement, and trauma. Grief is part of being human “But we live in a grief-avoidant culture, that encourages us to move … Read more

Dementia and end-of-life decisions

It’s a common misconception that people with dementia cannot make or be included in end of life decision making. But this is one of the myths of dementia and end-of-life planning. There are more than 400,000 people currently living in Australia with dementia. This week is Dementia Action Week (September … Read more

Sponsored Article: a coaching course to manage grief?

Want To Create A Fulfilling Lifestyle Helping People Discover How At...

Have you ever considered a coaching course to manage grief? A coaching course can be an effective way to manage grief because of what it teaches you about self-coaching. Heal Yourself and Others With Coaching “We understand that coping with grief and loss can be an overwhelming journey,” says Ben … Read more

Suicide Memorial Event today – everyone is welcome.

Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service

Wesley Mission is holding its Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service Day in Sydney today at 12 noon – and everyone is welcome. It’s at Yallamundi Rooms of the Sydney Opera House. See the walking map to get to the right spot, here. https://www.wesleymission.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Walking-map-to-the-Yallamundi-rooms.pdf You can be with other people in … Read more

Advance Care Directives – let’s look at them again.

Anne Meller, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Advance Care Planning, Prince Of Wales Hospital

Here is a PDF of the NSW Government’s latest Making an advance are directive booklet. A couple of people at recent Understand Death Better talks in Sydney have asked for the NSW form. So here it is. Making an Advance Care Directive (pdf)  It’s a good document because it’s written in easy … Read more

Understand Death Better Q&A session – North Sydney Community Centre – a reminder.

Understand Death Better - North Sydney Community Centre

Just a reminder that we’re doing another Understand Death Better Q&A session in North Sydney on Friday. It starts at 10am and will go until 11.30am. Our hosts are the wonderful team at the North Sydney Community Centre. This is at: (click the link below to see it on a … Read more

Good Grief! loves death doulas.

Three death doulas interviewed by Lianey Smith for the Western Independent.

Annique Lee talks about how she became a death doula. To find out more, read Lainey Smith’s story. Death doulas are a valuable asset on the ‘death scene’, to help people manage the death of someone they are caring for. We’re very pleased that Lainey Smith from The Western Independent … Read more

Understand Death Better Q&A session – North Sydney Community Centre.

Understand Death Better - North Sydney Community Centre

The Understand Death Better Q&A session is coming to North Sydney Community Centre. So many questions about death. At our last gathering we shared stories and answers that grew out of questions such as: How do I make my advance care directive effective if all my family live overseas? Is … Read more

Dying to Know Day is on tomorrow in Australia.

Dying to Know Day, 2023 - front page collage

You can find a Dying to Know Day event in your community by following the link we’ve inserted here. But what is Dying to Know Day all about? It’s designed to encourage you to become your own advocate about what you want at the end-of-life. This starts with having a … Read more

Dying to Know Day 2023 – getting ready for August 8.

Dying to Know Day, 2023 - Strong Currents Ahead

Good Grief! is a great fan of Dying to Know Day. Dying to Know Day happens throughout Australia on August 8. It’s designed to encourage you to become your own advocate about what you want at the end-of-life. This starts with having a conversation about death, with the people who’ll need … Read more

Good Grief logo

Subscribe to the Good Grief! newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive our latest articles, useful resources and news on upcoming events.

Thank you for joining the Good Grief! Newsletter. Please look out for our first newsletter, and add our email address to your 'Safe senders' list if the newsletter arrives in your junk folder.